Press Releases
86 House Democrats Demand the Trump Administration Abandon Illegal Plans to Dismantle Civil Rights and Special Education Offices
07.21.26 WASHINGTON - Eighty-six House Democrats called on the Department of Education to immediately abandon its plan to transfer the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the Department of Justice (DOJ). In their letter, the Members argue that the Trump Administration’s plan to dismantle OCR and OSERS through Interagency Agreements (IAAs) is unlawful because Congress established both… Continue Reading
Republicans’ Advance Divisive Bills That Ignore Affordability Crisis
07.21.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Workforce Republicans advanced a slate of bills that prioritize partisan political messaging over addressing the real challenges facing America's workers, students, and families. Instead of strengthening workplace protections, expanding educational opportunity, or lowering costs, Republicans voted to move legislation that weakens civil rights protections, undermines workers' rights, and creates unnecessary burdens for schools. In his opening statem… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Republicans for Ignoring Affordability Crisis
07.21.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 8781, 4986, 8747, 8183, 9723, 8660, 8347, 6213, 8775, and 5267. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, here we go again—considering a package of bills that may reflect your priorities—but not the priorities of the American people. Americans are struggling to cover the cost of groceries, housing, child care, health care, and others. And gas has again j… Continue Reading
Education and Workforce Democratic Members Introduce Bills to Protect Workers from Wrongful Health Claim Denials
07.16.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), and Committee on Education and Workforce Members Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06), and Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12), introduced a series of bills designed to protect consumers from wrongful health claim denials by health insurers and group health plans. The legislation follows the Committee Democrats’ recent report, titled Denied: How the Health Care IndustryS… Continue Reading
ICYMI: Ranking Member Scott Hosts Event on Impact of Dismantling ED on Adult Education, TRIO Programs
07.16.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) hosted a rogue event on the impact of the Trump administration’s decision to transfer Adult Education and Family Literacy programs from the Department of Education (ED) to the Department of Labor (DOL), warning that the move shifts the focus of adult education from lifelong learning to workforce training. For decades, these programs have helped adults build foundational skills that prepare them for further education, career advancement,… Continue Reading
Republicans’ Bless President Trump’s Illegal Scheme to Dismantle ED
07.15.26 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Workforce Republicans voted to rubber-stamp President Trump’s scheme to illegally dismantle the Department of Education (ED) piece-by-piece by codifying the Interagency Agreements (IAAs). Each of today’s bills delegates functions, specific grants and programs, and offices currently at ED to other federal agencies. In his opening statement, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott highlighted the endless problems with the current illegal IAAs and … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Republicans for Blindly Rubber-Stamping Trump’s Plans to Dismantle ED
07.15.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 9607, 9609, 9602, 9603, 9605, 9606, 9611, 9610, 9608, and 9604. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Today, we will consider legislation that will effectively codify 10 of the Department of Education’s 14 interagency agreements (IAAs). If these bills were to be adopted, it would result in the permanent transfer of the Department of Education’s core responsibiliti… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott’s Opening Remarks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Medical Schools
07.14.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks at today’s full committee hearing entitled “Training Activists, Not Physicians: The Impact of DEI on Medical Schools.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, today the full Committee is holding a hearing titled by my colleagues, ‘Training Activists, Not Physicians: The Impact of DEI on Medical Schools.’ The three schools appearing before the Committee today were initially asked to respond to concerns … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Trump Administration Plan to Weaponize Federal Grant Dollars to Undermine Civil Rights
07.13.26 WASHINGTON -Today, House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) sent a letter to U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought urging OMB to withdraw the Trump Administration’s proposed rule, entitled Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, that would politicize how federal grant dollars are managed and administered. Ranking Member Scott warned that the sweeping changes in the Proposed Rule would upend the continuity of fede… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on Committee Republicans’ Move to Dismantle the Department of Education
07.10.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after Committee Republicans announced ten bills that would codify President Trump’s Project 2025 agenda to dismantle the Department of Education. “At the behest of Trump, Committee Republicans have introduced a flurry of bills that would dismantle the Department of Education and offload critical offices to agencies that are ill-equipped to carry out core du… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Condemns Rescission of Affirmative Action Guidance
07.06.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rescinded the 1979 rule that establishes affirmative action guidelines for employers. “The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) decision to rescind its long-standing guidelines on affirmative action in the workplace is another step in the Trump Administration’s campaign to dismantle civil rights and equal opportunity for wor… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on June Jobs Report
07.02.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy gained 57,000 jobs in June, and the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.2 percent. At this point in his term, the economy under President Biden had created 9.5 million jobs, compared to just 716,000 under President Trump's second term. “In the year since President Trump and Congressional Republic… Continue Reading
HELP Ranking Member DeSaulnier Opening Remarks on the Pressing Need to Lower Health Care Costs
07.01.26 WASHINGTON - Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) delivered the following opening statement at today’s HELP Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Direct Contracting: A Prescription for Lower Health Care Costs.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I want to thank all the witnesses for being here today. “In the wealthiest country in the world, Americans are still forced to choose between filling a prescription and paying their rent or putting foo… Continue Reading
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Remarks on Private Equity Pricing Families Out of Youth Sports
06.30.26 WASHINGTON - Early Childhood and Secondary Education (ECESE) Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s ECESE Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Field of Fees: Private Equity’s Role in the Commercialization of American Youth Sports.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here with your expertise and also your experience on this important issue. Also, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your statement this morning. “I expect w… Continue Reading
Scott, Omar, and McBath Investigate NLRB General Counsel’s Potential Conflicts of Interest
06.30.26 WASHINGTON -Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05), and Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) are questioning National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Crystal S. Carey about potential conflicts of interest and improper influence in cases against companies accused of violating the law. The request follows Carey’s appearance before the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions (HELP), in which she adm… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott's Statement on Trump v. Slaughter
06.29.26 WASHINGTON - House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s firing of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter. “Once again, the Roberts-led majority in the Supreme Court has abandoned decades of precedent and weakened Congress’ authority to create independent agencies that are accountable to the American people, including America’s workforce. “Workers a… Continue Reading
Democrats Call for Study on Post-Secondary Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
06.29.26 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, joined his colleagues in a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that the Trump-Vance Administration conduct a study to help improve post-secondary outcomes for American students with disabilities. The letter comes shortly after the Administration announced it will further gut the Department of Education by shifting the Office of Special Education and Rehabili… Continue Reading
Scott, DeLauro, Murray Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Combat Wage Theft, Strengthen Workers’ Rights
06.25.26 WASHINGTON— Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), reintroduced their Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act, comprehensive leg… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Rebukes Republicans’ Decision to Advance Bills that Ignore the Affordability Crisis
06.25.26 WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Workforce Republicans advanced partisan legislation that fails to address the worsening affordability crisis caused by the Trump Administration and Republicans’ reckless economic policies. Instead of working with Committee Democrats to lower the cost of living for American families, Committee Republicans favored legislation designed to curb free speech, promote one-sided political priorities, and weaken protections that workers, students, and f… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Slams Republican Markup That Does Not Address the Rising Cost of Living
06.25.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 8476, 4795, 9203, 2555, 5505, 2332, 4122, 8822, 8823, 9381, and 9228. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. “Mr. Chairman, this Committee has immense responsibility to pass legislation that ensures students receive a quality education, protects workers, and expands access to affordable, quality health care. While I appreciate the bipartisan work reflected in some o… Continue Reading